PR man reveals split with Birmingham Oratory after 35 years

THE voice of Birmingham’s Roman Catholic churches today revealed he quit his role as a spokesman for Birmingham Oratory because he was only offered a “good cleaner’s wage” of £10 per hour for his services.

THE voice of Birmingham’s Roman Catholic churches today revealed he quit his role as a spokesman for Birmingham Oratory because he was only offered a “good cleaner’s wage” of £10 per hour for his services.

Peter Jennings, press secretary for the Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham, had also been working as a public relations officer for the Oratory since 1974. He was employed by the parish church to represent the cause of the beatification of Cardinal John Newman.

Today, he spoke for the first time about the reasons he left, saying: “Firstly, it was becoming very difficult to do any work there because it’s a very divided community.

“I have helped work on the PR for the Newman cause since 1974, most of it for nothing.

“Earlier this year, I was sent a series of rather heavy handed letters from the Oratory, one of which said I had to have a contract with them rather than just doing the work as I had been.”

Mr Jennings claimed that in the contract he was offered a wage of £10 an hour.

“It was derisory,” he said. “To offer what you would pay a good cleaner.”

Instead, Mr Jennings said he offered to do all their PR for nothing at all as a “gesture.”

“I had a letter back saying take it or leave it,” he said.

“After all I and others have done for the cause for the beatification of Cardinal Newman, it was very disappointing. He’s progressed from being a parish priest to being a worldwide figure.”

Mr Jennings said he had been “disappointed” with the Oratory’s decision but planned to continue to write, broadcast and speak about the Cardinal.

“I believe its just a matter of months before the Pope could issue decree for his beatification.”

Earlier this week, Mr Jennings hit headlines for calling a former Handsworth Grammar School pupil, now studying at Oxford University, “a worthless s***”.

Both had attended a religious lecture attended by prominent members of the Catholic church and were dinning with guests, when Mr Jennings launched his tirade at Mr Matthew Tye, who he claims was discussing his departure from the Oratory. Mr Jennings claimed no one knew the reasons he had left, which is why was “profoundly upset”.

“I have apologised; I deeply regret it and I have written an apology to Mr Tye.”

Father Philip Cleveley at the Oratory said: “Peter’s version of what happened is true to an extent, but it’s our policy not to comment publicly.”